Report: Brenden Aaronson signed to first team contract with Philadelphia Union

South Jersey midfielder Brenden Aaronson is the latest teenager to sign a first team contract with the Philadelphia Union, according to reports.

Ives Galarcep tweeted the news of his anticipated signing earlier today and Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer later confirmed that he had signed a contract for the 2019 season.

The soon-to-be 18-year-old from Medford, N.J. with United States youth international experience had previously verbally committed to Indiana University for the 2019 college soccer season.

Aaronson becomes the first South Jersey player to travel the Union development pipeline from the Union Juniors to the Union Academy and Bethlehem Steel to the first team. He joined the Union U14 team in the Development Academy for the 2013-14 after spending time with his hometown clubs Real Jersey FC and Medford Soccer Club.

Aaronson is the second teenager in recent days to sign a professional contract with the Union organization. Vermont-born Bosnian American Selmir Miscic, 15, signed his first pro deal with Bethlehem Steel earlier this week.

A playmaking midfielder, Aaronson is the sixth player to travel the Philadelphia Union’s development pipeline, joining Derrick Jones, Auston Trusty, Anthony Fontana, Matthew Real and Mark McKenzie.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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